Green Crafty Q&A: Weaving Plastic Bags

The Crafting A Green World Q&A series returns for its second installment – this time fueled by one of our long-time readers, Tamara.

Q: Help! I am looking for a place that will show me how to basket weave plastic bags that does not require me to know how to knit or crochet. – Tamara

A: Oh, how I love a challenge! Crocheting is the most common way that I have seen when it comes to using plastic bag “yarn”, but knitting comes in at a close second. Using plastic bags with a traditional weaving technique is just about as easy as using fiber yarns. With a little digging and some ingenious internet searches, I’ve found a few online resources that give step-by-step instructions for weaving plastic bags – sans knitting needles and crochet hooks.

Though made with plastic packing strips, this Instructables woven bag project offers detailed photos and step-by-step directions. I believe if you simply replace the packing strips with plastic bag strips, you’ll get the same effect.

Not specifically about weaving plastic bags, Craft Magazine posted an extensive entry about plastic bags crafts on their blog a while back. With info on everything from creating plastic bag yarn and fusing plastic bags together as “fabric” to dress and raincoat tutorials, this is a must-read for anyone looking to reuse their flimsy plastic shoppers.

[[ From basic to brain boggling, we welcome your sustainable stitching queries either via comment on one of our other Q&A posts or directly via e-mail. Knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, pottery, paper arts … if you make it, we can answer your questions on how to make it better. ]]

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About the Author

Victoria Everman I think of myself as a creatively versatile eco-powerhouse. Freelance writer, life-long model, on-camera personality, public speaker, official U.S. spokesperson for Twice Shy Clothing - I'm a classic Renaissance woman and mistress-of-all-trades.
Though my days of growing up in the corn fields of central Indiana are behind me, forgetting where I came from is not an option. I lost my father unexpectedly in March of 2006, months before moving from NYC to San Francisco, which helped to amplify my zest for life and thirst to help change the world.
Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share my unquenchable green knowledge, I blog about everything eco on my own website, as well as for All Green Magazine and select others. Additionally, I am the editor/head writer of Crafting a Green World (part of the Green Options blog network) and a writer/web editor for Building Green TV. My diverse articles have been published in variety of reputable magazines, such as: Yoga Journal, Venus, CRAFT, Yogi Times, Recovery Solutions, M+F, and Office Solutions.
In my spare time, you can find me knitting, reading, singing, taking pictures, practicing yoga, taking long walks, and working on my first non-fiction book. Other random facts about me: I'm a Buddhist, latex fan, have four tattoos, and an attempting locavore.
MOVING TO PORTLAND, OREGON IN JUNE 2008

My friend and fellow interior design student are planning to create some sort of chair and/or furniture pieces using plastic bags and other recyclable/reusable materials. Our finished designs will be sold at a charity auction in the fall. I hope to find useful info here, and would appreciate any hints or advice anyone may have. Thanks!

Rebecca

My friend and fellow interior design student are planning to create some sort of chair and/or furniture pieces using plastic bags and other recyclable/reusable materials. Our finished designs will be sold at a charity auction in the fall. I hope to find useful info here, and would appreciate any hints or advice anyone may have. Thanks!

Rebecca

My friend and fellow interior design student are planning to create some sort of chair and/or furniture pieces using plastic bags and other recyclable/reusable materials. Our finished designs will be sold at a charity auction in the fall. I hope to find useful info here, and would appreciate any hints or advice anyone may have. Thanks!

Rebecca

My friend and fellow interior design student are planning to create some sort of chair and/or furniture pieces using plastic bags and other recyclable/reusable materials. Our finished designs will be sold at a charity auction in the fall. I hope to find useful info here, and would appreciate any hints or advice anyone may have. Thanks!

Marilyn Bess

A couple of years ago my daughter used my table loom to weave rugs, using carpet warp for the warp and plastic bags for the weft. They are great!

I want to do it myself but have lost the web site with directions. Does anyone know where I can find it?

Thanks.
Marilyn
Sonoma County, CA

Marilyn Bess

A couple of years ago my daughter used my table loom to weave rugs, using carpet warp for the warp and plastic bags for the weft. They are great!

I want to do it myself but have lost the web site with directions. Does anyone know where I can find it?

Thanks.
Marilyn
Sonoma County, CA

Marilyn Bess

A couple of years ago my daughter used my table loom to weave rugs, using carpet warp for the warp and plastic bags for the weft. They are great!

I want to do it myself but have lost the web site with directions. Does anyone know where I can find it?

Is the video tutorial from artExchange about plastic bags still available? When I clicked on the link no website came up. Do you have the name of the current site? I’m trying to find out how to make a recycled basket from plastic bags in the same manner, can you help me?

Maria

Is the video tutorial from artExchange about plastic bags still available? When I clicked on the link no website came up. Do you have the name of the current site? I’m trying to find out how to make a recycled basket from plastic bags in the same manner, can you help me?

Maria

Is the video tutorial from artExchange about plastic bags still available? When I clicked on the link no website came up. Do you have the name of the current site? I’m trying to find out how to make a recycled basket from plastic bags in the same manner, can you help me?

Maria

Is the video tutorial from artExchange about plastic bags still available? When I clicked on the link no website came up. Do you have the name of the current site? I’m trying to find out how to make a recycled basket from plastic bags in the same manner, can you help me?

http://transitionnigeria.ning.com Akin Olatidoye

Hello,

Great to spot this website. I am member of a local sustainability team in Nigeria and would love to explore making items out of plastic bags. Are you open discussions on this.

Cheers.

http://transitionnigeria.ning.com Akin Olatidoye

Hello,

Great to spot this website. I am member of a local sustainability team in Nigeria and would love to explore making items out of plastic bags. Are you open discussions on this.

Cheers.

http://transitionnigeria.ning.com Akin Olatidoye

Hello,

Great to spot this website. I am member of a local sustainability team in Nigeria and would love to explore making items out of plastic bags. Are you open discussions on this.

Cheers.

http://transitionnigeria.ning.com Akin Olatidoye

Hello,

Great to spot this website. I am member of a local sustainability team in Nigeria and would love to explore making items out of plastic bags. Are you open discussions on this.

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